Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 16 · 2026-08-17

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The plans below show the site of an airport now and how it will look after redevelopment next year.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

SOUTHWEST AIRPORT

Student answer (Band 6.5)

The given plans depict the information about the layout of site of an airport at present and how the different variations will occur in it in the next years.

After analyzing the maps it is clear that, in the South direction, only one departure section is present in the former map, however there will be two entries made for departure section in the latter map. Similarly arrivals can enter from one side in the first map, and that will split into two sections in the next map. Moreover, in the South-west direction there is availability of check-in centre to the left side and cafe in the corner near to centre, while in the future, Bag-drop will take the place of check-in, and check-in centre will be established in place of cafe. There will be change in the position of cafe which will be shifted to corner in the south-west direction. Furthermore, Apart from this, south-east direction is empty in the given plan, whereas cafe ATM and car hire will be established side by side on border of this plan.

Further the plans collate that the if we look at the centre SECURITY AND PASSPORT CONTROL remains unchanged in both the maps. In addition to this,

Right side of the central part, also remains the same for both maps. Additionally, north-east side of the plan remains empty in the first plan, whereas shops will be constructed there in the next map. If we move towards the north direction, there are 8 gates present there along with the walkway section in between the gates; in contrast this area will become more wide and will be covered by 1-18 gates. Additionally, people would enjoy the sky-train facilities in place of walkway.

Overall, it is clear that there will be many modifications in these plans of airport. Some plans will change while others remain unchanged in both the plans.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response covers all key features of the airport redevelopment, including the changes to the departure/arrival sections, the reconfiguration of the check-in/bag-drop area, and the expansion of the gates. The overview is present but could be more concise. While the main features are identified, the description is occasionally repetitive and lacks a more analytical approach to comparing the two layouts. For instance, the transition between describing the south-west and south-east areas is somewhat cluttered. However, the response successfully highlights the most significant changes, such as the increase in gate capacity and the introduction of the sky-train, which demonstrates a clear understanding of the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the description of the airport layout. Cohesive devices such as 'Similarly', 'Moreover', 'Furthermore', and 'In contrast' are used to link ideas. However, some transitions feel mechanical or slightly forced, such as 'Further the plans collate that the if we look at the centre'. Additionally, the paragraphing is slightly inconsistent, with a very short, fragmented paragraph in the middle. Improving the flow between sentences and ensuring that referencing is clearer would elevate the score. Overall, the progression of information is logical, moving from the south to the centre and then to the north.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to describe the changes, such as 'redevelopment', 'reconfigured', 'modifications', and 'established'. There are some instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'variations will occur in it' and 'border of this plan'. While the vocabulary is adequate for the task, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for a higher band. Some word choices are repetitive, and there is a tendency to use basic descriptors where more precise terminology regarding spatial layout or architectural changes would be more effective.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'depict the information about the layout of site' (missing article), 'in the next years' (should be 'in the coming year'), and 'this area will become more wide' (should be 'wider'). Punctuation is generally functional, though there are some awkward phrasings that hinder the flow. While the errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. The student demonstrates an ability to use complex structures, but control over these structures is inconsistent.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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